PMT DB
PMT DB
Divisional Round Recap: Mahomes is Inevitable and the Lions are for Real
The Divisional Round delivered exactly what it promised: high stakes, historic breakthroughs, and a reminder that the AFC belongs to one man until further notice. We kicked things off with the Fastest 2 Minutes before getting into the Ravens' absolute demolition of the Texans. While Houston has a lot to look forward to with CJ Stroud, they ran into a Baltimore defense that is playing at a completely different level right now.
Big CatCJ Stroud had the best rookie season for a quarterback in NFL history
I called it the best rookie year for a QB ever. And it just, you just ran into an absolute buzz saw [in the Ravens]. ... But at least you know that you have hope now. Like this is a, your window is beginning to open.
Speaking of that Ravens defense, Big Cat thinks they are clearly the class of the remaining field. They made adjustments at halftime that completely suffocated the Texans, making it clear that Lamar Jackson finally has the supporting cast on both sides of the ball to make a legitimate Super Bowl run.
Big CatThe Ravens have the best defense of the four remaining playoff teams
I think I I I think they're [the Ravens] the best defense left. I think that's pretty easy to say at this point. Yeah. I think the Niners have a lot of dudes, but the Packers were able to run the ball down their throat. Like I I the Ravens just, they just have guys everywhere.
We also had to address the bizarre saga of the S2 cognition test. After CJ Stroud spent the season making that test look like a total fraud, reports started leaking that his low score was actually an "incorrect" count. Big Cat and PFT aren't buying it for a second.
Big CatThe S2 cognition test people are trying to cover their asses regarding CJ Stroud
The S2 cognition test or whatever the fuck it's called... they're literally just trying to cover their ass. Like combine seasons coming up. Once CJ Stroud ended up being incredible and Rookie of the Year and all these things, they have to cover their ass some ways. So they're like, 'Haha, just a prank, it was an incorrect test score and it never should have been counted.'
PFT CommenterDavid Tepper should sue the S2 cognition test people for ruining his operation
I think that David Tepper should sue the S2 people because I am studying for the bar exam and you have to prove that you have financial damages and liability. David Tepper could very easily be like, 'You fucked over my entire operation.'
Out West, the Niners survived a massive scare from the Packers. It was the perfect Brock Purdy game because it gave both his haters and his supporters enough ammo to last through February. Kyle Shanahan finally got a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter, but the guys are still wary of his late-game decision-making.
Big CatKyle Shanahan has 'shit for brains' when it comes to clock management
You basically make the perfect football coach in terms of demeanor, scheme, intellect... and then you say, 'but let's just tweak it a little bit to fuck with him.' Let's give him a quarterback he never fully trusts and also give him shit for brains when it comes to clock management. And that's Kyle Shanahan.
On the other side of that ball, Chase Young continues to be a point of frustration for PFT. For a guy with his physical gifts, the lack of actual impact on the stat sheet is becoming impossible to ignore, especially when the Packers were able to run the ball effectively for long stretches.
PFT CommenterChase Young's lack of production is glaringly obvious and disappointing
Chase Young stinks... he looks so intimidated. He looks like such a good football player that when he doesn't put up any stats, you're like, 'what's going on with this guy?' ... He leads the league in tackling non-ball carriers.
Sunday brought the feel-good story of the decade as the Detroit Lions booked their first trip to the NFC Championship game since 1991. Jared Goff was clinical in the fourth quarter, and Dan Campbell has officially completed the turnaround he promised three years ago. PFT is already looking ahead to how America will eventually sour on this underdog story.
PFT CommenterAmerica will turn on the Lions in two years if they win a Super Bowl
I feel like if the Lions get to win a Super Bowl, they'll get probably like a two-year grace period before America starts to turn on them. We turn on people pretty quickly... it might happen right away.
PFT CommenterThe Lions are much better than the Packers and will beat the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl
I think the Lions are way better than the Packers right now at this moment. ... The defense looks great. Way better than it did back on Thanksgiving. Yeah. So I, it's anything's possible. I'm gonna take the Lions [to beat the 49ers].
Then there was Buffalo. Another year, another tragic January ending for Bills Mafia. Between the fake punt to DeMar Hamlin and Tyler Bass going wide right, it was a masterclass in heartbreak. PFT even suggested that missing the kick was a mercy compared to what Mahomes would have done with a minute left on the clock.
PFT CommenterMissing the field goal was slightly better for Bills fans than Patrick Mahomes throwing a dagger
Losing the game this way [the wide right] is a little bit better than if [Tyler Bass] makes that kick, you kick off to Patrick Mahomes, he's got a minute 40 seconds left and then he drives down the field and puts a dagger in your heart again... you can be like, 'fucking kickers.'
PFT CommenterThe Bills must fire Sean McDermott because he's absorbed too much sadness
They have to make a change at coach... there's just too much sadness that follows him. If you're a coach, you eat some—coaches eat those losses. Some coaches just like absorb them into their bodies and get sad and they carry that baggage with them forever. Sean McDermott has just—he's been around for too many bad moments.
Ultimately, the weekend ended with the realization that Patrick Mahomes has reached the "Tom Brady Zone." He is simply inevitable. No matter how many wide receivers drop passes during the regular season, he finds a way to be there on Championship Sunday.
Big CatPatrick Mahomes is Inevitable and the new Tom Brady
Patrick Mahomes is the new Tom Brady. They are—they just will steal joy from every franchise in the AFC for the next 15 years. That's just a fact. Patrick Mahomes is Inevitable. That's what he is. He wins playoff games better than anyone else.
PFT CommenterPatrick Mahomes might be the best quarterback to ever play
He might be the best quarterback to ever play. He's on pace to be. Fact or fiction, Hank? ... He's on pace.
We wrapped up the show with Who's Back, featuring a historic amateur win on the PGA Tour and a very suspicious collision involving Caitlin Clark that Big Cat wasn't ready to let slide.
Big CatCaitlin Clark's court storming collision was an 'all-time flop'
It was a flop. I saw the alternate angle. Caitlin Clark... she leaned into the contact. The girl was just running, minding her own business, and Caitlin Clark shoved her and then just did a pirouette and fell. It's crazy. This is insane. Justice for the other girl.
Just remember, there is a middle schooler out there right now who is going to be catching touchdowns from Mahomes in 2035 while we're all still doing this show.
Big CatA 12-year-old kid right now will be Patrick Mahomes' main target in 2035
There's a kid right now, maybe a kid who's listening to this show who's 12 years old who's gonna be catching balls from Patrick Mahomes in an AFC Championship game in year 2035. Like, think about that. Mahomes is going to win his last Super Bowl on the way out of town in 2035.
See you on Wednesday, unless Jim Harbaugh takes the Chargers job before then.
